Grand Valley Lanthorn
Encyclopedia
The Grand Valley Lanthorn is the student-run newspaper for Grand Valley State University
in Allendale, Michigan
. The Lanthorn is printed twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year (Late August through April). It is not printed over academic breaks, and there are typically two issues over the summer months. The "Lanthorn" prints 8,000 copies per individual publication and also operates its own website.
The word "lanthorn" is derived from an old English word meaning "look out" or "lantern." A lanthorn was constructed of leather and a lens made of ox or steer horn, it was used for lighting or as a beacon. The common pronunciation of the word on campus is lan-thorn, although the proper pronunciation is lant-horn.
In October 1968, the college changed the name again, this time to "The Lanthorn". The internet edition of the newspaper, www.lanthorn.com, appeared in 1995, and was the first online edition of a weekly Michigan collegiate newspaper. The Lanthorn grew to broadsheet size on August 27, 1997 and averaged 20–24 pages in length each week.
On January 13, 2000, the newspaper changed its name for the last time to the "Grand Valley Lanthorn". The GVL expanded to publications twice per week circulating 8,000 copies per publication to both the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses. Although GVSU is a Division II athletics school, the newspaper competes at the Division I level for the Michigan College Press Association Awards.
lawsuit when the Ottawa County, Michigan
sheriff's department closed down the newspaper in 1969 for printing several vulgar words. GVSU sued the sheriff, and eventually, the Michigan
Attorney General
sided with the university in order to settle the case before it reached a court.
In 2008, a new county-wide smoking ban was established, which prohibited smoking within 25 feet of building entrances. When the Lanthorn questioned school officials about ash trays kept at building entrances, which defied the ban, the newspaper was told, "As it relates to this ordinance, Grand Valley State University is subject to its own jurisdiction pursuant to the Michigan Constitution. In other words, we are responsible for making our own smoking policies." After additional stories and follow-up that led to state-wide publicity on the matter, Grand Valley State University eventually created a forum to implement new smoking policies.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in Allendale, Michigan
Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Allendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708...
. The Lanthorn is printed twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year (Late August through April). It is not printed over academic breaks, and there are typically two issues over the summer months. The "Lanthorn" prints 8,000 copies per individual publication and also operates its own website.
The word "lanthorn" is derived from an old English word meaning "look out" or "lantern." A lanthorn was constructed of leather and a lens made of ox or steer horn, it was used for lighting or as a beacon. The common pronunciation of the word on campus is lan-thorn, although the proper pronunciation is lant-horn.
History
The Grand Valley Lanthorn first traces its history back to November 22, 1963, with the founding of at the time Grand Valley State College's first student run newspaper, "The Keystone". The Keystone did not last long however, and had its last edition published on January 22, 1966. It was then replaced by GVSC's second newspaper, "The Valley View", on October 28, 1966 until its last publication on June 6, 1968.In October 1968, the college changed the name again, this time to "The Lanthorn". The internet edition of the newspaper, www.lanthorn.com, appeared in 1995, and was the first online edition of a weekly Michigan collegiate newspaper. The Lanthorn grew to broadsheet size on August 27, 1997 and averaged 20–24 pages in length each week.
On January 13, 2000, the newspaper changed its name for the last time to the "Grand Valley Lanthorn". The GVL expanded to publications twice per week circulating 8,000 copies per publication to both the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses. Although GVSU is a Division II athletics school, the newspaper competes at the Division I level for the Michigan College Press Association Awards.
Controversy
The Lanthorn has been involved in several controversies over its history, including a First AmendmentFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
lawsuit when the Ottawa County, Michigan
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
sheriff's department closed down the newspaper in 1969 for printing several vulgar words. GVSU sued the sheriff, and eventually, the Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
sided with the university in order to settle the case before it reached a court.
In 2008, a new county-wide smoking ban was established, which prohibited smoking within 25 feet of building entrances. When the Lanthorn questioned school officials about ash trays kept at building entrances, which defied the ban, the newspaper was told, "As it relates to this ordinance, Grand Valley State University is subject to its own jurisdiction pursuant to the Michigan Constitution. In other words, we are responsible for making our own smoking policies." After additional stories and follow-up that led to state-wide publicity on the matter, Grand Valley State University eventually created a forum to implement new smoking policies.